Feline Leukemia Symptoms - The Signs Of FeLV

Most
cats that test positive for FeLV suffer a destruction or weakening of
their immune system.

This means that the cat is unable to fight off
viral, fungal or bacterial secondary infections and therefore is at risk
of many feline illnesses.

There is no symptom, or set of symptoms, that specifically indicate
feline leukemia. Any symptoms will be due to the secondary infections.

If
a cat has repeated infections, or illnesses, that do not resolve easily
then it is possible that she or he is showing symptoms of feline
leukemia.

It needs a blood test, often several blood tests, to determine
if a cat has FeLV.

A veterinarian will consider the possibility of FeLV as the cause each time a cat is unwell.

Some FeLV positive cats show no feline leukemia symptoms at all and
appear to be in good health.

These cats however, carry and spread the
disease so must be kept completely isolated from uninfected cats.

Most
cats show few signs during early stages of infection. After time the
health of the cat deteriorates and more symptoms may be apparent.

Cat Leukemia. a.k.a. Feline Leukemia, FeLV.

For
information about feline leukemia, how it is passed from cat to cat,
and information on preventing the disease and how it is treated and
managed please see - Cat Leukemia.

Feline Leukemia Symptoms

Weight Loss and/or Loss of Appetite. There are many illnesses
that result in a cat losing weight, or not eating, which may, or may
not, be a result of cat leukemia. Weight is a very good barometer of a
cat's health, any cat inexplicably losing weight should be examined by a
veterinarian.

Diarrhea. There are many things that can cause moderate bouts of diarrhea, most of these are relatively trivial. Persistent diarrhea however, can be a sign of something more severe and is often one of the early symptoms of feline leukemia. Cat Diarrhea.

Fever. Fever can be described as a very high body temperature
that is self generated to combat disease. An indication of many
ailments as well as being an early sign of FeLV.

Lethargy. Most
cats sleep for a good part of the day but a cat that is unresponsive,
listless and disinterested for any length of time may be unwell. Cat
leukemia is a possibility. Lethargic Cat.

Respiratory Issues. It is fairly common for a feline leukemia positive cat to experience breathing difficulties.
This can be for a variety of reasons one of which is a tumor that grows
in the cat's chest. The tumor (Thymic Lymphosarcoma,) causes fluid to
build up and press against the cat's lungs making breathing difficult.
Nine out of ten of the cats that have thymic lymphosarcoma test
positive for FeLV. Of course, any cat with breathing problems, whether symptomatic of feline leukemia or not, needs urgent professional attention.

Eye Conditions.
The condition of the cat's eyes can give pointers to the presence of
many diseases including FeLV. Indications include, redness, blood in the
eye, odd pupil sizes, squinting, swelling and change of iris color. Cat Eye Health.

Constipation. There are many reasons a cat can be constipated,
some are very simple such as a change in the cat's diet. A far more
serious cause can be obstruction of the bowls by a tumor related to
feline leukemia. Cat Constipation.

It must be emphasized that if a cat is showing any feline leukemia symptoms, then the cat needs the attention of a veterinarian.

Skin Infections and Poor Coat Condition. Infections and
abscesses and/or an unhealthy looking coat can both be feline leukemia
symptoms. Cats are very fussy about their coats and a poorly kept coat
is always an indication that something is wrong. Cat Skin Problems.

Inflamed Gums and Mouth Sores.
Because of its harmful effect upon the cat's immune system, FeLV
renders the animal open to oral infections. Lesions and inflammation of
the mouth and throat can not only cause great pain, but also make eating
very difficult.

Anemia. Anemia is a reduction of red blood cells. The
majority of anemic cats with feline leukemia are not producing
sufficient red blood cell. Cats whose immune systems are weakened by
FeLV are also open to attack by Cat Worms and Fleas
which can cause the cat anemia due to the depletion of blood.The most
obvious symptoms of anemia are pale, gray or even white gums, weight
loss, lethargy, black stools.

Neuropathies.
Neuropathy describes an abnormality of the nerve function. Due to
the impact of FeLV the signals between the cat's brain and the
individual parts of its body can become disrupted and distorted. The
result could be partial paralysis of the hind legs, inability to
balance, seizures, changes in behavior or loss of control. Needless to say, any cat displaying such symptoms, whether as a sign of feline leukemia or not, needs urgent veterinary attention.

Abortion of Kittens.
A feline leukemia infected queen rarely gives birth, as the embryonic
kittens usually die in the womb and are aborted. The kittens that do
make it to birth sadly do not usually make past a few weeks of life.

The above list of possible feline leukemia symptoms is not
exhaustive. Any of the listed signs could be indications of other
ailments and illnesses. It must be emphasized that if a cat is showing
some, or any, of the above symptoms, then the cat needs professional
attention.

This page was not written by a
veterinarian. If you are concerned that your cat may be showing feline
leukemia symptoms you should urgently consult a vet.